According to Edward Hasted, in 1798, it was part of the hundred of Faversham.[3] It was once antiently recorded as 'Harteigh'.[3] There were also 4000 sheep and six cottages with twenty people.[3]

Historically, Harty was the northern terminus of the Harty Ferry (a two small boat service),[3] which ran across the Swale channel between the then Isle of Harty and the mainland: hence the name of the local public house. The southern, mainland, terminus was close to the villages of Oare and Uplees. Today the remains of the southern jetty are on the coast of the Oare Marshes nature reserve. A small cluster of buildings close by still bear the name Harty Ferry Cottages.

Harty is a few minutes walk from the Swale National Nature Reserve. Public footpaths run from Harty, along the southern extent of the reserve to the hamlet of Shellness, and back around the reserve's northern perimeter to Harty.